CARE FOR EVERYONE - A: 5th Sunday in Easter

First Reading: Acts 6:1-7 (May 7, 2023)

“As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution” (Acts 6:1).

There are two sub-groups in the new Jesus-movement, based on the narrative of the Acts of the Apostles. The first group is that of the Hebrews and they were presumably the majority bloc in the Christian assembly. The Greek term Hebraioi that was used in the Bible to represent them, however, should not be taken literally (cf. 2 Cor 11:22; Phil 3:5). They were not Hebrew-speaking per se nor of pure Hebrew lineage who directly descended from the Hebrews that were mentioned in the Old Testament (e.g., Gen 39:14; Exo 1:22). These ancient people had long been extinct since the beginning of the Second Temple Period (ca. 6th century BCE). With the rise of the Assyrians and Babylonians as superpowers in the late Iron Age (ca. 8th century BCE), Aramaic started to be introduced as the lingua franca of the world. Thus, the Hebrew language slowly died over time. Most probably, the Hebraioi that are described in the Acts were those who have some degree of Hebraic lineage and were raised in a Hebraic culture. They can be alternately referred to as Jewish Christians who are natives of the land of Palestine.

The second group is that of the Hellenists or Greeks. The English terms Hellenists and Greeks do not actually qualify the identity of those whom the Acts calls the Hellēnistēs (Acts 6:1; 9:29; 11:20), which might be associable to the Hellēnes (cf. Acts 14:1; 16:1, 3; 17:4; 18:4; 19:10, 17; 20:21; 21:28). There are two possibilities on the rightful meaning of the word Hellēnistēs. First, they can be understood as the Greek-speaking Christians, who had adopted the Greek language as the main vernacular after inhabiting a Greek or Hellenized territory for a long period. This territory is most probably situated in the diaspora, where the demography is a mixed ethnicity. Second, they can be comprehended as a catchword for all Gentiles, i.e., those who have not yet been converted to the Jewish faith. In the first century CE, they were also identified as the uncircumcised since circumcision is the main marker of the believers of Yahweh.

Regardless of the exact reference to the term Hellenes, its juxtaposition with the appellation Hebraioi in the Acts denotes that they were the outsiders of the Jewish population and society. It also means that they were considered outsiders or strangers by the Jewish members of the Jesus-movement. We should remember that the number of converts had been rising by the thousands at this point (cf. Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14).

Among them were non-Jews, who might not have a pristine Jewish lineage nor familiarity with the Mosaic tradition. Yet, they were still part of the Christian fold since they all accepted and confessed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Jesus, in his lifetime, had also promoted the evangelization of everyone, regardless of language, provenance, religious upbringing, cultural background, and gender (cf. Mt 28:18-20). The first Christians knew this notion very well at the onset of the foundation of their communities in different places. Thus, they made it a point that even their foreign members should be equally attended to and valued since everyone is equal in the eyes of the Lord. We, likewise, should display a similar disposition, treating everyone with equal regard and looking at the needs of all without favoritism or preferences.

Thus, may we not be concerned alone on the welfare of a selected few, but on the wellbeing of everyone since all are God’s children in the first place.

- Rex Fortes, CM